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Kayaking

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Kayakers off the coast of Raspberry Island (Alaska)
Kayaking in whitewater rapids
Whitewater kayaking at Great Falls, Virginia

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits facing forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle to pull front-to-back on one side and then the other in rotation.[1] Most kayaks have closed decks, although sit-on-top and inflatable kayaks are growing in popularity as well.[2]

History

Kayaks were created thousands of years ago by the Inuit, formerly known as Eskimos, of the northern Arctic regions. They used driftwood and sometimes the skeleton of whale, to construct the frame of the kayak, and animal skin, particularly seal skin was used create the body. The main purpose for creating the kayak, which literally translates to "hunter's boat" was for hunting and fishing.[3] The kayak's stealth capabilities, allowed for the hunter to sneak up behind animals on the shoreline, and successfully catch their prey. By the mid-1800s the kayak became increasingly popular and the Europeans became interested. German and French men began kayaking for sport. In 1931, a man named Adolf Anderle became the first person to kayak down the Salzachofen Gorge, this is where the birthplace of modern day white-water kayaking is believed to have begun. Kayak races were introduced in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. In the 1950s fiberglass kayaks were developed and commonly used, until 1980s when polyethylene plastic kayaks came about. Kayaking progressed as a fringe sport in the U.S. until the 1970s, when it became a mainstream popular sport. Now, more than 10 white water kayaking events are featured in the Olympics.[4]

Design

Kayaks can also be classified by their design and the materials from which they are made. Each design has its specific advantage, including performance, manoeuvrability, stability and paddling style. Kayaks can be made of metal, fibreglass, wood, plastic, fabrics, and inflatable fabrics such as PVC or rubber, and more recently expensive but feather light carbon fiber. Each material also has its specific advantage, including strength, durability, portability, flexibility, resistance to ultraviolet and storage requirements. For example, wooden kayaks can be created from kits or built by hand. Stitch and glue, plywood kayaks can be lighter than any other material except skin-on frame. Inflatable kayaks, made from lightweight fabric, can be deflated and easily transported and stored, and considered to be remarkably tough and durable compared to some hard-sided boats.[5]

Glowworm Kayaking at Waimarino Adventure Park

Equipment

There are many types of kayaks used in flat water and white water kayaking. The sizes and shapes vary drastically depending on what type of water to be paddled on and also what the paddler would like to do. The second set of essentials for kayaking is an off-set paddle where the paddle blades are tilted to help reduce wind resistance while the other blade is being used in the water. These vary in length and also shape depending on the intended use, height of the paddler and often, the paddler's preference. Kayaks should be equipped with one or more buoyancy aid (also called flotation) which creates air space that helps prevent a kayak from sinking when filled with water; life jacket should be worn at all times (also called a personal flotation device or PDF), a helmet is also often required for most kayaking and is mandatory for white water kayaking.[6] Various other pieces of safety gear include: a whistle for signaling for help; throwing ropes to help rescue other kayakers; and, a diving knife and appropriate water shoes should used depending upon the risks the water and terrain pose. Proper clothing such as a dry suit, wet suit or spray top also help protect kayakers from cold water or air temperatures.[7]

Types of kayaks

"Sit on top" kayaks place the paddler in an open, shallowly-concave deck above the water level.[8] "Cockpit style" involves sitting with the legs and hips inside the kayak hull with a spray deck or "spray skirt" that creates a water resistant seal around the waist. "Inflatables" are a hybrid of the two previous configurations; these boats have an open deck, but the paddler sits below the level of the deck. "Tandems" are configured for multiple paddlers, in contrast to the single person designs featured by most kayaks. Tandems can be used by two or even three paddlers.

Activities involving kayaks

Sea kayaking at Wilson's Promontory in Victoria, Australia

Because of their range and adaptability, kayaks can be useful for other outdoor activities such as diving, fishing, wilderness exploration and search and rescue during floods.[9]

Diving

Main article: Kayak diving

Kayak diving is a type of recreational diving where the divers paddle to a diving site in a kayak carrying all their gear to the place they want to dive. The range can be up to several kilometres along the coastline from the launching point to a place where access would be difficult from the shore, although the sea is sheltered. It is a considerably cheaper alternative to using a powered boat, as well as combining the experience of sea kayaking at the same time. Kayak diving gives the diver independence from dive boat operators, while allowing dives at sites which are too far to comfortably swim, but are sufficiently sheltered.[10]

Fishing

Main article: Kayak fishing

Kayak fishing is fishing from a kayak. The kayak has long been a means of transportation and a stealth means of approaching easily spooked fish, such as cobia and flounder. Kayak fishing has gained popularity in recent times due to its broad appeal as an environmentally friendly and healthy method of transportation, as well as its relatively low cost of entry compared to motorized boats.[11]

See also

Main article: Outline of canoeing and kayaking

References

  1. ^ "ICF - Canoeing, Kayaking and Rowing: So what's the difference anyway?". Canoeicf.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  2. ^ "Kayak Review". Kayak Review. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  3. ^ "The Interesting History of Kayaks and the Sport of Kayaking". surftosummit.com. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  4. ^ "History of Kayaking - HowStuffWorks". Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  5. ^ Brown, Kevin. "What Is Best For You; An Inflatable Kayak Or A Hard-Shell Kayak?". Surf to Summit. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  6. ^ Bigelow, Jodi (2008). Kayaking for Fitness. The Heliconia Press. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  7. ^ "merican Canoe Association: Paddling 101: A Newcomer's Guide to Safe Canoeing and Kayaking" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Why a sit-on-top kayak?". Ocean Kayak. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Equipments". Wiltshire Search and Rescue. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Francis, John (August 2003). "Kayak diving". How to Scuba Dive. Scuba Diving magazine. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  11. ^ Routh, Cory (2008) Kayak Fishing : The Complete Guide No Nonsense Guides. ISBN 978-1-892469-19-9;
    Burnley, Ric (2007) The Complete Kayak Fisherman. Burford Books. ISBN 978-1-58080-147-8;
    Daubert, Ken (2001) Kayakfishing : The Revolution. Coelacanth Pubns. ISBN 978-0-9678098-2-3;
    Null, Scott and Mcbride, Joel (2009) Kayak Fishing: The Ultimate Guide 2nd Edition. Heliconia Press. ISBN 978-1-896980-43-0
  • Media related to Kayaking at Wikimedia Commons
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